Let our Genielights team make your home a Holiday Wonderland

Every year, thousands of homeowners unknowingly allow untrained, unskilled “holiday lighting installers” onto their roofs, siding, and gutters—only to discover months later that these cheap installations caused expensive, often irreversible damage to their homes. 

Improperly installed holiday lighting is one of the leading causes of wintertime home and roofing damage. And the worst part? The damage rarely shows up immediately.

It usually reveals itself long after the installer is gone, and long after the homeowner has any chance of recovering costs.

We know this because we’ve spent years repairing these exact problems for homeowners across the region—repairs that never should have been needed in the first place. That experience is exactly why we moved into professional holiday lighting installations done the right way.

Below are the most common—and most expensive—problems caused by unskilled installers.

Unskilled installers often screw, staple, nail, or force plastic clips under shingles or ridge caps.

This causes:

• Shingle cracking (especially on cold days, when shingles become brittle)
• Compromised shingle seals that lead to water intrusion
• Lifted tabs that create wind vulnerabilities
• Premature granule loss which drastically shortens roof life

Hidden Danger:

Water slowly seeps under the damaged shingle area, often unnoticed until spring. By then, the underlayment and plywood may already be rotting.

Typical repair cost:

👉 Patch + flashing repair: $450–$850

👉 Plywood replacement from rot: $900–$2,500

👉 Full section roof replacement: $3,000–$9,000

Untrained installers often hang lights directly from the structural lip of the gutter, placing stress on brackets and fasteners not designed to hold extra weight or tension.

This leads to:

• Bent or twisted gutters
• Detached or sagging gutter sections
• Leaking gutter seams from overstress
• Ice dams forming due to improper tension and clip placement

Hidden Danger:

Gutter damage usually isn’t noticed until heavy rain—or worse, melting snow—reveals leaks and overflows that damage fascia boards and landscaping. 

Typical repair cost:

👉 Gutter repair: $250–$700

👉 Section replacement: $600–$1,500

👉 Fascia repair or replacement: $800–$2,400

Improper installers often:

• Use staples or nails directly into vinyl, wood, or aluminum siding
• Force clips into gaps (causing warping or separation)
• Pull lights off in the spring, ripping siding panels out of place

Hidden Danger:

Moisture sneaks behind loose siding panels during rain and snow, leading to mold, insulation damage, and insect intrusion.

Typical repair cost:

👉 Siding panel replacement: $350–$900

👉 Hidden moisture/mold repair: $1,200–$5,000

Unskilled installers frequently:

• Overload circuits
• Use indoor-grade extension cords outside
• Connect mismatched wiring
• Stuff plugs into wet, unprotected areas
• Tape connections instead of using weatherproof housings

Immediate risk:

🔥 Electrical short

🔥 Melted wires

🔥 Tripped breakers

🔥 Fire ignition under snow or debris

Hidden Danger:

Even if nothing burns, the electrical damage isn’t always noticeable until the next season when outlets or circuits fail.

Typical repair cost:

👉 Electrical fixes: $300–$1,500

👉 Fire-related damage: $5,000–$50,000+ Including potential harm to life

Many installers walk your roof with no training, no roof knowledge, and no idea which areas should never be stepped on.

This causes:

• Accelerated roof aging
• Granule loss that reduces protection
• Unseen microcracks in brittle winter shingles

Hidden Danger:

Granule loss is cumulative and irreversible. This damage dramatically shortens the life of your roof, but you won’t know it for years.

Typical long-term cost:

👉 Early roof replacement: $9,000–$25,000+

Some installers drill or screw lights directly into your home’s trim, leaving behind holes that allow:

• Water intrusion
• Wood rot
• Pest entry
• Paint failure

Hidden danger:

A tiny screw hole can cause thousands of dollars in damage after a full freeze-thaw season.

Typical repair cost:

👉 Fascia/soffit repairs: $400–$1,500

👉 Full replacement: $2,000–$6,000

This is the most important part homeowners overlook:

Most damage from improper holiday lighting is delayed.

By the time you notice:

• The installer is gone
• Your warranty doesn’t apply
• Your insurance may not cover it
• The damage has spread

We have been called countless times in the spring and summer to repair issues that were caused in November or December by cheap holiday light installations.

This is exactly why we decided to enter the professional holiday lighting industry—

to prevent the same damage we spent years repairing.

Because we understand roofs, gutters, siding, electrical safety, and home exteriors better than anyone installing holiday lights without that background Thanks to our over 25 years in the home building and maintenance experience.

We use:

• Purpose-made commercial grade clips that NEVER damage shingles or gutters
• Proper load-balanced electrical designs
• Zero-penetration mounting methods
• Safety procedures that keep your roof protected
• Installers trained in building materials and roof systems
• Fully insured, professional-grade equipment
• Guaranteed damage-free removal

We install lights the way professional holiday lighting should’ve always been done—

with respect for the integrity, safety, and longevity of your home. And of course, Experience-Experience-Experience!

Installers are not regulated and anyone who decides to make an "extra buck" can suddenly become an "installer" with no experience and likely never installed lights before this season. Don't make your home the guinea pig. If you are receiving estimates that are very low, RUN. This is not a high margin business after design, proper install, service, removal and storage. Estimates coming in at 20% lower than proven professionals is the first sign of desperation and trouble. Do your research. Professional Materials are not cheap. Experienced, properly trained technicians and insurance add to that cost. 

Don't let a festive time of year turn into a disaster, as we all see in the headlines year after year.